McKevitt trial ends in his absence today

The trial of alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt for directing terrorism ended at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today in his absence.

Mc Kevitt who sacked his legal team last Thursday remained in the cells at the Green Street courthouse as prosecuting counsel Mr George Birmingham SC closed the prosecution case.

Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding at the non jury court, at the end of the prosecution case sent a written document prepared by the prosecution outlining his options to Mc Kevitt.

Assistant Chief Prison Officer Margaret Burke brought the document to Mc Kevitt in the cells area and returned a short time later to tell the court: "I handed him the document and he asked me to say, with respect, I have been denied the right to a fair trial and I refer the court to my address on Thursday.''

Mr Justice Johnson remanded Mc Kevitt in custody and said the court hoped to be in a position to deliver a verdict on Wednesday, August 6.

Earlier, when the trial resumed Mr Justice Johnson asked Prison Officer Burke to communicate to Mc Kevitt that the court directed him to come to court.

Prison Officer Burke went to the cells area and when she returned, told the court: "He said with respect that he withdrew from the court in a dignified, peaceful protest and that remains his position.''

Prosecuting counsel Mr Birmingham drew the court's attention to an article in today's Irish Independent and said it dealt with the protest at Maghaberry prison in Northern Ireland and sympathetic action by some prisoners at Portlaoise prison.

He said it made remarks about Mr McKevitt which seemed to be undesirable in a situation where he is on trial and the trial is coming to a close.

Mr Justice Johnson said the court was not going to be affected by reports in newspapers.

Michael McKevitt, aged 53, of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth denies membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann between August 29, 1999 and March 28, 2001.

He also denies directing the activities of the same organisation.

During the 26-day trial the court heard evidence from Mr David Rupert, a 6' 8'' tall American who worked for the FBI and the British Security Service (MI5).

Mr Rupert, aged 51, a former trucking company boss and bar owner , told the court that he infiltrated dissident republican groups for the FBI and the British Security Service(MI5).

The court heard that Mr Rupert has been paid $1.25m (€1m) to date for his work.

Mr Rupert has claimed that Mc Kevitt told him he wanted to set up a new dissident republican terrorist group that would carry out attacks in Britain and that he was seeking outside help, including from Saddam Hussein's Iraq, for the group.